JOURNAL 

OF  THE 

Presbyterian  Historical  Society 

Vol.  II.  June,  1904.  No.  5.       y 


REPORTS    UPON    THE   EARLY   HISTORY    OF 
PRESBYTERIAN   CHURCHES. 


-,—,—,) 


[The  origin  and  character  of  the  sketches  of  the  early  history 
of  local  Presbyterian  churches,  whose  publication  is  here  be- 
gun, are  set  forth  in  the  Editorial  contained  in  this  number 
of  the  Journal.  In  printing  them  the  effort  is  made  not  only 
to  be  accurate,  but  also  to  reproduce  in  each  case  the  original 
peculiarities  of  the  manuscript.  In  regard  to  the  two  now  ap- 
pearing, it  may  be  remarked  that  they  are  unsigned  and  un- 
dated, but  they  are  written  by  the  same  hand,  and  by  a 
comparison  with  a  signed  document  of  the  Rev.  Nathaniel 
Irwin  belonging  to  the  Taylor  collection,1  it  is  placed  beyond 
question  that  both  of  these  Memoirs  are  written  by  him. 

Memoirs  of  the  Presbytn-  Ch.  of  Neshaminey. 

The  Presbyterian  Church  of  Neshaminey  is  so  called  from  its 
situation  on  the  South  branch  of  the  Neshaminey  Creek.  It 
has  also  been  called  "  the  Forks  of  Neshaminey,"  as  the  build- 
ing is  situated,  and  the  worshippers  generally  reside,  in  the 
forks  of  that  Creek — The  house  of  public  worship  is  in  Warwick 
Township  in  the  County  of  Bucks  about  three  miles  distant  from 
the  line  of  Montgomery  County  &  about  twenty  miles  nearly 
due  North  of  the  City  of  Philada-    A  religious  Society  was  first 

1  See  the  Journal,  vol.  ii,  p.  218. 

221 


. 


222       Reports  upon  Early  Presbyterian  Churches. 

formed  in  this  place  about  the  year  1724  by  the  occasional 
preaching  of  the  Revd-  Wm-  Tennent,  [the  oldest  of  that 
name.]1 

This  venerable  Patriarch  had  been  a  regular  Minister  of  the 
•established  Church  of  Ireland  ;  which  he  left  &  came  to 
America  about  the  year  1715.  His  first  permanent  residence 
was  at  Bedford  in  the  State  of  New-York,  where  he  continued 
about  three  years  directing  his  attention  chiefly  to  farming.  In 
the  year  1718  he  appeard  before  the  Synod  of  Philad"-  then 
the  highest  Court  of  Judicature  in  the  Presbyterian  Church  of 
America,  &  expressed  his  desire  to  join  that  body.  The  Synod 
after  examining  his  credentials  &  receiving  a  profession  of  his 
faith  <i-  the  reasons  which  induced  him  to  renounce  the 
Episcopal  Church  (which  last  are  on  record)  received  him  as  a 
Member.*  Soon  after  this  he  was  setled  as  stated  Pastor  of 
the  Church  of  Bensalem  near  the  Mouth  of  the  Neshaminey 
Creek.  Being  thus  naturally  led  to  explore  the  sources 
of  the  Stream  on  which  he  resided,  he  came  at  length  to 
minister  occasionally  in  the  forks  &  the  vicinity.  In  the 
year  1725  (whether  by  private  contract  or  presbyterial  settle- 
ment does  not  appear)  Mr.  Tennent  undertook  to  preach 
statedby  to  the  people  collected  there,  every  other  sabbath.  For 
two  years  &  an  half  he  continued  thus  to  officiate  at  Mr.  James 
Cravens  about  three  Miles  and  an  half  South  East  from  the 
place  where  the  Church  now  stands  :  using  the  Barn  in  the 
summer,  the  dwelling  House  in  the  Winter. 

Mr.  Craven  was  a  low  Dutch  man  late  from  long  Island  &  had 
been  connected  with  the  Dutch  Ch.  subordinate  to  the  Classic 
of  Holland.  Having  now  had  "the  Church  in  his  house"  for 
so  long  a  time,  he  became  a  zealous  Member  of  of8  the  Presby- 
terian Ch.  &  his  descendants  &  connections  have  formed  a 
small  but  respecable  branch  of  this  Society  ever  since. 

In  1727  the  foundation  of  a  House  for  public  worship  was 

*  It  is  supposed  that  his  wife  who  was  a  Presbyterian  &  descended  from 
a  long  line  of  Presbyterian  Minister's  had  considerable  influence  in 
bringing  her  husband  to  embrace  the  Presbyterian  faith. 

1  Erased.  '-'  Repeated. 


A 

Reports  upon  Early  Presryteriax  Churches.        223 

laid  a  few  poles  distant  from  the  place  where  the  Church 
now  stands — So  vigorous  did  this  Society  appear,  even 
in  the  Cradle,  that  this  their  first  Church  was  an  elegant 
stone  building  40  feet  by  30  fitted  for  galleries  &  the 
front  of  hewn  stone* — It  was  finished  so  that  divine  service 
began  to  be  statedly  performed  in  it  in  the  summer  of  the 
year  1728 — Mr.  Tennent  at  this  time  lived  on  a  farm  which 
had  been  given  him  by  his  friend  Mr.  [Growden]  '  Logan — 
about  equidistant  from  Neshaminey  &  Bensalem.  But  as  he 
was  now  advanced  in  years  &  found  the  supplying  two  churches 
14  Miles  distant  from  each  other  too  much  for  his  diminished 
strength,  he  resigned  the  Charge  of  Bensalem  &  devoted  his 
whole  attention  to  the  favourite  Child  of  his  gray  hairs — the 
infant  Ch.  of  Neshaminey.  Suited  to  this  plan,  his  generous 
friend  [Growden]1  Logan  accommodated  him  with  a  new  Plan- 
tation (in  lieu,  of  the  former)  situated  on  the  old  York  Road  in 
Warminster  Township  about  one  mile  &  a  quarter  South  East 
of  the  Church.  This  spot  became  famous  as  the  Seat  of  an 
Accademy  called  by  some  the  Log  College  erected  there  by  Mr. 
Tennent  [about  ye  year] '  in  or  near  ye  year  1730.2  [This]  l 
Such  an  Accademy  [which]  '  would  scarce  be/mown  at  this  day  : 
but  it  was  justly  celebrated  at  a  time  when  there  was  hardly  its 
superior  South  of  New-England. 

Mr-  Tennent  was  a  Master  [of]1  in  the  latin  &  Greek  lan- 
guages &  had  some  acquaintance  with  the  liberal  Arts  &  Sci- 
ences. These  he  taught  in  person  for  a  time :  As  the  School 
increased  he  employed  one  or  more  assistants.  Many  of  the 
Scholars  after  compleating  at  this  Accademy  such  a  course  of 
liberal  learning  as  the  place  afforded  &  the  day  required. 
studied  divinity  with  Mr-  Tennent  or  others  &  became  eminent 
in  the  Church,  especially  as  instruments  in  the  Revival  of  re- 
ligion which  succeeded.  Among  these  were  a  Robertson,  a 
M°Knight,  a  Campbell,  a  McCrea,  a  Laurence  a  Roan  a  Rodgers 

*  Considering  the  numerous  wants  of  the  people  &  the  general  state  of 
building  at  this  day,  such  a  Ch.  was  noble  for  the  first  effort  of  a  Society 
scarcely  formed. 


Erased.       ?  Originally  written  1732  and  subsequently  altered  to  1730. 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 
in  2013 


http://archive.org/details/repearlyOOphil 


\& 


Reports  upon  Early  Presbyterian  Churches.       225 

Among  the  Ministers  who  occasionally  supplied  the  [Church]1 
Pulpit  at  this  time  was  the  Revd-  Francis  McHenry.  He  came 
from  Ireland  in  the  fall  of  the  year  1737 —  Next  year  he- was 
established  at  Deep  Run  whence  he  came  to  supply  at  Ne-  X 
shaminey.  [These  supplies  from  being  occasional  came  about 
the  vcar  41  or  42,  to  be  stated  every  other  sabbath — ]  '  Some 
time  after  he  accepted  the  pastoral  Charge  of  a  part  of 
this  Church  &  was  to  render  one  half  his  services  at  Ne- 
'shaminey,  the  other  at  Deep  Run.  When  the  rent  took 
place  in  the  Synod  in  the  year  1741  he  adhered  to  the  old 
side —  He  was  however,  a  very  morderate  and  prudent  man  & 
declined  signing  the  Protest  that  shibboleth  of  the  party —  But 
he  did  not  please  the  warm  spirits  of  Neshaminey,  who,  on  the 
l@)day  of  Decr-  1743  setled  the  Revd-  Charles  Beatty  as  their 
Pastor  [Soon  after  this  the  other  part  of  the  Congregation 
sought  &  obtained  the  said  Mr-  McHenry  to  be  their  Pastor 
to  preach  half  his  time  at  Neshaminey  and  half  at  Deep  Run.]1 
[He]1  Mr.  McHenry  continued  to  serve  [them]1  his  flock  with 
diligence  fidelity  &  reputation  till  Jan?-  24th  1757  when  he 
died —  The  aged  Tennent  was  already  in  possession  of  his  re- 
ward on  wch  he  entered  May  6th  1746  having  finished  Ids 
73d  year. 

Shortly  [before]1  after  the  settlement  of  Mr.  Beatty  some  dis- 
putes arose  between  the  parties  respecting  the  property  of  the 
Church —  The  new  side  were  the  most  numerous ;  but  dis- 
couraged by  some  legal  decisions  in  similar  cases  they  attempted 
no  forcible  entry  or  legal  process,  but  proceeded  to  build  a 
house  more  large  &  more  elegant  than  the  former.  It  was  in 
lull  view  of  the  other  Church  and  on  the  same  ground  which 
is  occupied  by  the  existing  house —  Before  the  death  of 
Mr  McHenry  the  Synod  was  reunited  :  Mr.  Beatty  unsollicited 
delivered  a  pathetic  funeral  discourse  in  the  Church  late  of  his 
deceased  Brother.  This  was  thought  to  have  a  considerable 
influence  in  bringing  the  people  with  a  few  exceptions  to 
unite  under  the  pastorai  care  of  Mr.  Beatty —  Mr.  Beatty  was 
a  man  of  a  public  Spirit  &  this  perhaps  was  the  chief  reason  of 

1  Erased. 


226       Reports  itpox  Early  Presbyterian  Churches. 

his  being  much  inclined  to  travel  &  being  much  absent  from 
his  Pastoral  charge —  On  one  of  these  expeditions  he  died  in 
the  1772  in  the  Island   of  Barbadoes  whether  he 

A 

had  gone  to  solicit  benefactions  for  the  College  of  New-Jersey — 
He  was  succeeded  [Aug]1  October  1774  by  Nath'-  Irwin  the 
present  Pastor  The  Stated  worshippers  at  the  time1  of  his 
settlement  were  near  200  families.  They  have  been  reduced, 
chiefly  by  migration  to  about  150.  Of  these  however  some  are 
not  Pew-holders —  [The  Church  was  incorporated  by  a/aw  of 
the  State  of  Pennsy"-  passed  Septr-  20th-  1782]— '  Old  &  new 
side  united  with  the  utmost  cordiality  in  his  Call  nor  has  the 
Spirit  of  party  appeared  among  them  ever  since.  The 
Church  was  Incorporated  by  a  Law  of  Pennsya-  passed  the  20th 
day  of  Sept1-  1782—  The  Revd-  Mr.  Gellatly  a  seceding  Minis- 
ter of  talents  &  character  [married]1  from  Scoland,  married 
into  the  family  of  Robt*-  Bready  then  a  Member  of  this  Church 
&  attached  to  the  party  of  Mr  McHenry —  This  event  conspir- 
ing with  the  death  of  Mr-  McHenry  which  happened  about  the 
same  time,  made  a  favourable  opening  for  the  Seceders  coming 
in  &  establishing  an  altar  in  this  place —  They  embraced  the 
opportunity,  &  attached  a  few  families  to  them  &  made  use  of 
the  old  Church  as  their  place  of  public  worship.  Mr.  Gellatly 
however  died  &  altho'  Mr.  Marshal*  endeavoured  to  keep  the 
stream  running,  it  is  long  since  dried  up —  All  the  seceders 
have  returned  :  the  Bready  family  only  excepted — 

Memoirs  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  of  Deep-run. 

This  Church  is  situated  near  the  centre  of  Bucks  County 
about  thirty  three  miles  [North]1  nearly  due  North  from 
Philada-  It  was  founded  about  the  year  1732  &  after  receiving 
occasional  supplies  for  five  or  six  years  had  for  its  first  Stated 
Pastor  the  Revd-  Francis  McHenry.  This  worthy  Man  was  li- 
censed in  the  Kingdom  of  Ireland,  arrived  in  America  in  the- 
fall  of  the  year  1737  <&  in  the  following  year  was  ordained  at 

Q       *  Now  of  Philadelphia 
1  Erased. 


^ 


Reports  upon  Early  Presbyterian  Churches.       227 

the  Forks  of  Neshaminey  &  installed  as  Pastor  of  that  Church 
&  Deep  which  he  served  alternately  till  the  time  of  his  Death 
which  was  on  the  23d-  of  January  1757  In  the  times  of  the  di- 
vision of  the  Presbyterian  Church  in  America  he  joined  what 
was  called  the  Old  side  but  did  not  sign  [the  protest]1  that 
shibboleth  of  the  day,  the  protest — He  was  moreover  so  exceed- 
ingly moderate  &  prudent  in  his  Conduct  that  when  men 
became  cooler  both  sides  admired  Ids  Character  &  conduct 
He  was  succeeded  in  the  Pastoral  Charge  of  [Deep  Run]1  this 
Church  by  the  Revd-  James  Lata  who  was  ordained  &  installed 
at  Deep  Run  Feb*-  19th  1762  By  his  [faithful  &]'  able  & 
faithful  ministrations  the  Church,  which  has  suffered  much 
during  the  Vacancy  of  the  pulpit,  revived,  &  nearly  recovered 
its  losses,  consisting  at  that  time  of  more  than  sixty  families. 
The  foolish  interference  &  rash  speeches  of  a  few  Weak  people 
respecting  Mr.  Lata's  Marriage  causing  some  disturbance  in  the 
place  he  sought  &  obtained  a  Dismission  on  the  12th-  of  April 
1770.  The  same  year  he  became  the  Pastor  of  the  Church  of 
Chesnut  Level  where  he  continues  to  adorn  the  Christian  & 
ministerial  Characters — The  Last  Stated  Minister  of  this  Church 
was  the  Ilevd-  James  Grier  who  was  ordained  &  installed  June 
the  1776  &  finished  his  short  but  marked  course  Octr-  19th* 
1791.  For  gifts  &  for  graces  Mr-  Grier  was  equally  distinguished. 
Had  he  not  been  impeded  in  his  course  by  a  weakly  or  disor- 
dered constitution  he  had  left  most  of  his  fellows  far  behind. 
[As  it  was]1  with  all  his  infirmities  he  was  a  close,  experi- 
mental, pathetic  &  eminently  useful  preacher  But  altho'  he 
was  instrumental  in  forming  many  sons  &  daughters  for  glory 
in  Deep  Run  he  could  not  stop  the  course  of  migration  &  con- 
sequent diminution  observable  in  most  Country  Churches  in  the 
lower  parts  of  Pennsya-  The  congregation  at  present  consists 
of  about  thirty  five  families  &  is  by  no  means  in  a  condition  to 
support  a  Minister — They  have  hopes,  however,  of  settling  one 
in  conjunction  with  the  Neighboring  Church  of  [Deep]1  Tine- 
cum  the  places  of  worship  being  only  about  6  miles  distant 
from  each  other — Tn  their  weak  state  they  derive  some  support 

1  Erased. 


> 


Vw 


■228       "Reports  upon  Early  Presbyterian  Churches. 

from  a  convenient  Glebe  &  Parsonage,  [100  acres  of  the]1  which 
they  possess.  100  acres  of  the  Land  was  a  present  to  the  Church 
from  the  late  \Villm-  Allen  Esqr-  The  Church  was  incorporated 
under  the  late  Law  of  Pennsya-  authorizing  the  Gov1-  to  grant 
Charters  of  incorporation.  The  most  remarkable  events  in  this 
Church  happened  in  the  Vacancy  between  the  Incumbency  of 
Mr.  McHenry  &  that  of  Mr-  Lata— About  the  time  of  the  decease 
of  the  former  that  is  in  the  year  1757,  some  seceding  Ministers 
3ately  arrived  from  Scotland  [began]1  came  into  this  place. 
bearing  in  [their]1  hand[s];  their  New  Covenant,  arallying  the 
people  around  this  as  a  Standard.  About  10  families  who  had 
belonged  to  this  Church  joined  them  &  formed  a  small  Society 
called  the  Plains  which  is  now  no  more — The  spirit  of  contro- 
versy (as  usual)  coming  in  with  this  new  System  of  doctrine 
infected  all  Ranks.  From  the  people  it  proceeded  to  the 
priests.  The  Revd-  Doctr-  Allison  Vice  Provost  of  the  College 
of  Philad*-  was  engaged  to  become  the  Champion  of  the  good 
old  cause.  Mr.  ( iellatly  one  of  the  most  eminent  of  the  Seceding 
Ministers  took  up  the  gantlet  in  favour  of  the  covenanted  refor- 
mation as  it  was  called — These  Spiritual  gladiators  in  the  sum- 
mer of  the  year  1759  Mounted  Stages  erected  for  the  purpose 
near  the  Church.  An  immense  Crowd  of  Spectators  not  only 
from  Deep  Run  but  many  neighbouring  Churches  animated 
their  courage  &  waited  anxious  the  grand  event — the  contest 
was  continued  with  various  success  from  Midday  till  Xight — 
Doctr.  Allison  being  the  elder  man  and  a  person  who  feared  nor 
man  nor  Devil  browbeat  his  adversary,  but  could  not  silence  or 
confound  him.  Each  party  therefore  went  away  crying  Victory 
&  more  confirmed  in  their  principles  than  before — 

1  Erased. 


